QUESTION PERIOD — Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Designation of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a Foreign Terrorist Organization
December 11, 2019
Honourable senators, my question is also for the Leader of the Government in the Senate. Amid the most recent wave of mass protests across Iran, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps released a statement warning that it would take decisive and revolutionary action against the protesters, and hundreds of people have been killed in recent weeks. Eighteen months ago, in June 2018, a motion passed in the other place called upon the government to immediately designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a listed terrorist entity under the Criminal Code of Canada. As we all know, that did not take place.
Senator Harder, can you tell us if the new Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, the Honourable Bill Blair, who voted in favour of the motion back in 2018, will respect the motion passed in the other place? When will the Government of Canada designate the IRGC as a terrorist entity under the Criminal Code?
Again, I thank the honourable senator for his question.
I want to repeat, as I have several times in this chamber in the last Parliament, that the government is deeply committed to holding Iran to account for its violations of the human rights and democratic rights of its people. That is why Canada led a resolution at the United Nations just last month calling on Iran to comply with its international human rights obligations.
The Government of Canada is deeply opposed to Iran’s support for terrorist organizations, its threats toward Israel, its ballistic missile program and its support for the Assad regime. The government will also continue to defend human rights and hold Iran to account for its actions. The government will also continue to sanction Iran, including through Canada’s special economic measures, the so-called SEMA. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force is listed as a terrorist entity under the Criminal Code of Canada.
The government opposes Iran’s support for terrorist organizations, its threats toward Israel, its ballistic missile program and human rights violations, and will continue to do so.
Senator Harder, in February, you told us that the government is “examining its options” and that the government “continues to monitor and determine whether and when such action would be appropriate.” Does this continue to be the position of your government, and could you please let us know whether anything has been done in the process to list the IRGC?
I would be happy to report back, but again, I want to emphasize that Canada’s approach to the situation in Iran is one that is calibrated beyond just that measure to include the leadership Canada took at the United Nations last month with respect to a declaration on Iran’s abuse of its people and of their democratic right to express their views.
